CORBETT, Thomas Alfred
| Service Number: | 4389 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 August 1915, Holsworthy, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Paddington, New South Wales, Australia, 16 August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Mortdale, Hurstville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Kogarah Public School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | War Related Injuries, Australia, 3 June 1920, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora General Cemetery, New South Wales Methodist Monumental W 0032 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mortdale War Memorial, Municipality of Hurstville Pictorial Honour Roll No 1, Sydney Employees of Hooper & Harrison Ltd. Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 4389, 17th Infantry Battalion, Holsworthy, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement 4389, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked 4389, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Sydney | |
| 14 Oct 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal | |
| 3 Jun 1920: | Involvement Sergeant, 4389, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4389 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1920-06-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Selina L & Thomas William CORBETT, George Street, Mortdale, New South Wales.
Wounded at Polygon Wood 21 September 1917, wounded 2nd occasion at Framerville 10 August 1918 and invalided to 1st London General Hospital and returne dto Sydney 18 May 1918.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He brought his machine gun team to the objective, and, when in position he was wounded. Later, when visiting all his guns, and though buried by a shell, he carried on until ordered away. Owing to casualties in his gun team, he crawled back and remained on duty until the battalion was relieved. His courage and coolness went far to keep up the spirits of his men.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918
Thomas Alfred Corbett was the son of the late Thomas William Corbett and Mrs. Selina Corbett, now of Mortdale. He enlisted for the great Avar in 1915, and was made sergeant before leaving Australia. His first wounding occurred at Bullecourt, when he suffered an injury to his back. The service he rendered on this occasion, must have been of a high order, for he gained special notice and distinction. The official record runs : ' Corporal T. A. Corbett. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He brought his machine-gun team to the objective, and, when in position, he was wounded. Later, when visiting all his guns, and though buried by a shell, he carried on until ordered away. Owing to casualties in his gun team he crawled back, and remained on duty until the battalion was relieved. His courage and coolness went far to keep up the spirits of his men." For this splendid service he was awarded the D.C.M. medal. He was decorated by General Birdwood. In a battle fought on August 10, 1918, he was wounded in the forehead. It was this injury which ultimately caused his death. After receiving medical treatment and careful nursing in England he returned to Australia on May 18, 1919, and on Wednesday, the 2nd June, he quietly and unexpectedly passed away. Many beautiful testimonies have been borne to his courage and the uprightness and winsomeness of his character. He was laid to rest in Woronora cemetery, Sutherland, in the presence of a vast concourse of people, the officiating minister being the Rev. H. Pennington, assisted by Revs. J . A. Waddell and H. Green. A largely attended memorial service was held in the Mortdale Church, the Rev. H. Pennington delivering an appropriate address and a strong choir effectively rendering special anthems.
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